The detective stories of the Englishwoman Sarah Dunant, including the novels “A Knife to the Heart”, “Birthmarks”, “On the Edge” published in “Foreigner”, are well known in Russia. So is her gripping historical thriller, The Birth of Venus. Dunant's new book again takes us to a distant era: the time and place of action - Italy of the 16th century, the capture of Rome by foreign troops, the flight of the Pope, the atrocities of the conquerors. The beautiful courtesan Fiammetta and the dwarf Buchino, devoted to her, can only flee to their native Venice, taking with them everything they can carry... In trying to start life anew, Fiammetta is forced to solve many mysteries. Should she expect good or evil from her old acquaintance, the famous poet Pietro Aretino? Who stole her jewelry? What kind of treasure is hidden in the ancient edition of Petrarch? Wanting to help his mistress, Buchino does not even stop at blackmail, but can Buchino himself be trusted? And what role does the mysterious healer Elena play in her fate? Only by answering these questions will Fiammetta find peace and happiness.